High Commission of India
Lilongwe (Malawi)
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PRESS RELEASE
Salima Sugar Factory commissioned in Malawi
Salima Sugar Factory was official inaugurated on 15 August, 2016 by H.E. Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of Malawi. Built with Lines of Credit of USD 33.5 Million from Government of India, the construction started in August 2013 and the civil works were completed in October 2015. The plant was under trial run for the last several months. The plant now commissioned, has a capacity to process 1250 metric tons of sugarcane in an 8 hour work shift. The plant located approximately 100 km from Lilongwe is surrounded by sugarcane fields. This Project is a part of the Green Belt Initiative of the Government of Malawi.
President of Malawi, inaugurating the Sugar plant, in his address to the over 1000 members who had assembled from the neighbouring villages surrounding Salima, mentioned about the assistance of the Government of India to Malawi in setting up the Sugar Plant. He mentioned that this industry is another step in the industrialisation process that his government has begun and Malawi would now become a net exporter of Sugar in the coming years.
Mr. Suresh Kumar Menon, High Commissioner-designate attended the event. Significantly, the official inauguration of the Sugar plant coincided with the 70th Independence Day of India. The other dignitaries who attended the event included Honourable Dr. George Chaponda, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development; Honourable Mr. Joseph Mwanamvekha, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism; Honourable Mr. Atupele Muluzi, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development; Honourable Ms. Patricia Kaliati, Minister of information, Communication Technology and Civic Education; and Members of Parliament of Malawi.
Salima Sugar Factory is another proud example of the continued assistance and support by Government of India to the friendly people and Government of Malawi in achieving its developmental goals. The factory would generate significant amount of employment to the farmers of Malawi by providing a ready market for the sugarcane produced. The plant has the capacity consume up to 300,000 tons of sugarcane in a year. The plant also will generate employment through subsidiary and ancillary industries for processing bagasse and molasses, by-products of the Salima sugar plant. The plant will provide direct employment to 500 people and indirect employment to over 3000 people. The project is another milestone in furthering the warm and friendly relations between India and Malawi.
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16 August, 2016
